The 5 Best Retro Gaming pads (2023 reviews)

We are personally inclined towards retrobit retro gaming pad, it is not so pricy, but it overachieves its purpose and outstanding in important aspects. The Retrobit usb 8-button controller perfectly captures the sega level of quality from the early 90s, thus introducing the greatness of the Genesis to a whole new generation of fans. It makes the interface switch, save/load states, exit game, etc commands, work wonderfully. The added L and R shoulder buttons are a great option to have, as well as the "mode" button which can act as a SELECT stand-in for certain games. The D-Pad, and buttons are very responsive, with no unwanted inputs.

The D-Pad supports diagonals, has L and R buttons on top, Start, Mode/Select in the middle, and 6 regular buttons on the right. The buttons feel great and have a satisfying tactile feel when pressing. The extra L & R buttons at the top are a welcome addition, and work well for GBA, GBC, and SNES configurations as needed. It would also be fine for a side-scroller game with a dedicated jump button.

Why We Like This:

An amazing controller for fighting & retro games
Super good responsiveness, and a solid grip
Feels great to hold, and compatible with lots of different hardware
A nice, well rounded controller that feels quite authentic and responsive

Best For COD: Logitech G Retro Gaming Pad

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The logitech g retro gaming pad's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. It's great for racing games, platformers, action/adventure games, RPGs, hack'n'slash games, and fighting games. The logitech software lets you customize the buttons and lets you launch games from the software with the controller configurations. There's a button that allows you to change the left hand XY control from the small joystick (left side) to the pad. The buttons and triggers are solid and responsive.

The controller is well-molded and fits in the hand rather nicely. Its textured thumbgrips and navy blue exterior with texturized plastic that gives it a beautiful matte appearance and a steadiness even with rather slippery hands. The buttons and triggers have an incredibly tight recoil that feels at home in both shooting and racing games. There's a physical switch on the back of the controller that allows you to toggle between having the controller in Xinput or Dinput mode. The materials used are very good quality and the gamepad is very durable.

Why We Like This:

Joysticks and throttle are precise enough for flight simulators
Analog joysticks feel smooth and tight
Great inexpensive controller for steam games and other games
Reliable and fits nicely in hands

Best For window: SAFFUN Retro Gaming Pad

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate pad. The saffun retro gaming pad is exactly that - it's a simple pad that hits all the right notes. This is an unifying usb receiver. It can be accomplished with 3rd party software that maps joystick buttons to keyboard controls such as xpadder, autohotkey, or eventghost. It can be easily upgraded for longer working time.

It works well without issue and also it is great for retropie build. These are very lightweight, but it doesn't take much to make this type of controller.

Why We Like This:

Really nostalgic feeling playing super nintendo games on the controllers
Fantastic, works great with raspberry pi
Wireless controllers work great, easy to connect
Input delay is close to none, and pairing is instant

Best For While: Fandragon Retro Gaming Pad

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention fandragon retro gaming pad for daily purpose. This controller is a TV box that supports an Android system. It offers a range up to 10 meters (32.8 feet), making it possible to enjoy playing from the far side of the room. It will remain dark and unresponsive. It has a compact and ergonomic shape design, it also supports 2 handles at the same time, super easy to use with friends and family.

This game pad is great for light gaming but will not hold up under heavy use. It is instantly compatible with Windows 10 and easy to set up. It will feel just like a PS3 controller and is a good, solid design. The item feels just like a PS3 controller and is a good, solid design.

Why We Like This:

Plug and play with ease, feels nice, good weight
Good, low cost controller to play games on pc
Perfect for gaming needs on pc
Working great for rocket league and dark souls

Best With Trigger: Ifyoo Retro Gaming Pad

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Not everyone likes to purchase pad for their daily purpose, but the ifyoo retro gaming pad would be an anomoly. This controller connects wirelessly to various series of xbox consoles and windows pcs via a 2.4ghz dongle. It looks good and the lights are cool. The turbo button works well, and easy to activate. The dual-vibration feature adds to the gaming experience, and the controller is easy to set up and use.

The controller has a sort of ergonomic casing that feels good to hold. The material is like a soft plastic, almost velvety and it feels really nice to hold. It's compatible with multiple devices such as PC, PS3, Android phones/tablets, and TV.

Why We Like This: